Review of The Bride Says Maybe by Cathy Maxwell

Title/Author: The Bride Says Maybe (The Brides of Wishmore #2) by Cathy Maxwell
Publisher/Date published: Avon, February 25th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: What happens when a bride says maybe?

She'd once been the toast of London, but now scandal has brought her down. Still, pretty, petted Lady Tara Davidson can't believe her new fate. She had wanted to marry for love... but her profligate father has promised her hand to none other than Breccan Campbell, the "Beast of Aberfeldy" and laird of the valley's most despised clan! Well, Tara may have to marry him, but Breccan can't make her love him — can he?

What happens when the groom insists?

Breccan Campbell is nobody's fool. He knows that Tara is trouble. Yet he's determined to reform the Campbell name even if it means forging an alliance with the arrogant beauty. There's no doubt that Tara is a challenge, and Breccan loves nothing more. For he's vowed to thoroughly seduce Tara — and make her his in more than name alone.

So I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts that I really enjoyed and parts that made me roll my eyes. I'm not really sure which part winds up winning in the end.

I had a problem with Tara. I liked her feistiness, but I really had a problem with the way she handled things at times. I mean, she was way overreacting about Breccan's dogs. I mean, ok, I wouldn't exactly appreciate them jumping on the bed and everything, but these dogs are trying to greet you and you whack one on the head? That is just wrong. And cruel. Have you guys ever seen a dog when you tell him off? They do this whole sad-heartbreaking thing and it kills me every time. And I imagined these dogs doing the same thing and for no good reason (obviously installing some rules isn't a bad thing, but this was just UGH) and I almost stopped reading right there. That did not win her sympathy points.

I might be a little oversensitive about this.

I know.

But I liked how Tara decided to make this marriage work and trying to cook for Breccan and really trying to be a partner, which earned her some respect from me. And also, she learned to work with the dogs, so there's that. But still.

Breccan was a manly man who was following a different part of his anatomy than his brain when he decided he wanted to marry Tara. I mean, honestly, if you haven't really had a conversation with someone, you shouldn't go around marrying them, because WOW DUDE you have to live with them and not just look at them from across the room. There's a person and not just a pretty face.
I did like the responsibility he felt for the people living on his land and how he truly wanted to help them.
I did want to slap him for a bit when he was basically ruining his relationship with Tara over something his evil cousin said and I was like WTF??? And this never gets discussed. I mean, if I were her, I would have been SO angry. But this never really gets sorted out other than that he realises his cousin was wrong.

These two did have chemistry and I love how Breccan's uncles fit into the story. And also: the dogs. Especially the tiniest one, who provided comic relieve and was just plain awesome with a huge personality, as little dogs often have.
I did however feel like the 'love' part came in out of nowhere and unrealistically fast, but that is also one of my pet peeves and something that happens a lot in the genre.

I liked the story in general and the setting and Tara and Breccan definitely had chemistry in abundance, but I also had some major annoyances..

My rating: 2,5 stars

Review of Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

Title/Author: Dark Star (Dark Star #1) by Bethany Frenette
Publisher/Date published: Disney Hyperion, October 23rd 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it's hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she's lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human - something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn't fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers - livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person's memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers' next move. But Leon, her mother's bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won't let Audrey out of his sight.

When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything - and everyone - she loves.

You guys, I have a confession to make: I really like superheroes. And it's pretty rare in YA that the main character (or the boyfriend) isn't the superhero in question, so I was intrigued by the summary! The cover is a bit misleading though, Audrey's mom is actually the one who wears a hoodie with a white star on her back.

I really liked Audrey. She has my kind of humour and I could relate to her being jealous of her mom's and Leon's superpowers, because as cool as her Knowing is, it's not really useful in a fight. Audrey has spunk and she's not the kind of girl that sits around moping in a corner, but instead thinks of a plan. I loved seeing her friendship with Tink and Gideon, those three were true friends and not just there to provide a background for the story (is anyone else annoyed at how friends are sometimes used as scenery instead of actual characters?) and I LOVED IT!

Also: one thing I'm forever rolling my eyes at is non-existant in Dark Star! The absent-parent-syndrome has definitely NOT hit this book and Bethany Frenette gets major brownie points for having Audrey's mom be a big part of her life and actually doing a fair bit of parenting. I mean, really, it was awesome. And Audrey's mom is awesome. Aside from not telling Audrey anything about the Kin. But other than that she's awesome and just a true mom.

And I really liked the romance potential in this book! There wasn't a lot of actual romance, but TENSION! EEEE!! I totally loved the scene where Audrey and Leon basically have a giant food fight and turn into life-sized cookie-ingredients. I love how Audrey gets frustrated by him and is maybe secretly having a crush on him, I LOVED it! And it all comes together in a scene towards the end that totally made me smile by the awkwardness of it and I believe that could have totally happened in real life.

I'm intrigued by this first book in the series and will be reading Burn Bright soon! I hope we'll learn more about the Kin and Audrey's father, cause I have so many questions!

My ratings: 4,5 stars

When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath

Title/Author: When the Duke Was Wicked (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James #1) by Lorraine Heath
Publisher/Date published: Avon, February 25th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Lady Grace Mabry’s ample inheritance has made it impossible for her to tell whether a suitor is in love with her — or enamored of her riches. Who better to distinguish beau from blackguard than her notorious childhood friend, the Duke of Lovingdon?

With no interest in marriage, Lovingdon has long lived only for pleasure. He sees little harm in helping Grace find a proper match. After all, he’s familiar with all the ploys a scoundrel uses to gain a woman’s favor. He simply has to teach the lovely innocent how to distinguish honest emotions from false ones. How better than by demonstrating his wicked ways. But as lessons lead to torrid passion and Grace becomes ensnared in another man’s marriage plot, Lovingdon must wage a desperate gamble: Open his heart fully — or risk losing the woman he adores...

You guys, I REALLY like Lorraine Heath's books and this one was no exception!

We meet Grace, who's determined to marry a man who loves her and is realistic about her dowry attracting the wrong kind of men: ones who are only after the money. I like that she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. I thought it was a teensy bit obsessive that she's determined to bring Lovingdon back to society, but hey, whatever works for you. Also, if this hadn't been a romance novel, but real life, and Grace was my friend, I would have warned her that trying to convince a widower who's all bitter about love to love again is something that she should maybe forget about. So I liked that she had some people in her life warning her off. Not that she paid any attention. But let's be honest, if everyone was sensible all the time, not a lot of exciting things would happen right?

I liked Lovingdon. He's loved and lost and doesn't want to go through that again and you know what, I can understand it. I mean, his loss was devastating. That's not something you bounce back from easily and you shouldn't in my opinion. I liked that he truly cared for Grace and how he wasn't really sure what it was exactly what he was doing: AKA he was loosing his head over Grace. I like that in a man.

I REALLY liked seeing these two together and felt all the heartache Grace did when he was kissing her but saying he didn't mean anything by it and was just 'showing her what a rake would do' I mean SERIOUSLY?? I would have slapped him as well. Stupid man. You can't do stuff like that. But he had the best intentions, so I forgave him.

I love how Lorraine Heath's books always make me smile and they're just feel good books for me!

My rating: 4 stars

Review of Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title/Author: Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep
Publisher/Date published: Kensington Books, February 25th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before – and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death... most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic – and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good... or I am.

***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST 5 BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

I actually didn't realise this would be the final book in the series until I was about halfway through it already. And I'm a bit sad that it has ended, because after six books, I've grown attached to these characters and their shenanigans and now we won't have adventures together anymore...

So I've told you guys before how much I love mythology and how this series is one of the examples in which it is done VERY well. I like Jennifer Estep's take on all of it and the different kinds of warriors are awesome. Really. And it's got an awesome magic school, though we don't really get to see a lot of the actual teaching that goes on, as they're battling Reapers pretty much all of the time. BUT I WOULD STILL ATTEND IT GIVEN THE CHANCE. So.

Gwen has grown on me and she has definitely grown as a person over the course of 6 books and I like it. I like her spunk and her humor, her courage and the way she keeps looking for solutions. I like the person she's become, it was so much fun to watch her stumble through things at first and then forming plans.
Oh, and I totally still love Logan and Nyx! Nyx is awesome. As is Vic, Gwen's sword, the bloodthirsty piece of metal. It adds a lol-factor to it that I appreciate.

So obviously, this book has the epic battle. And it is epic. It pretty much felt like this whole book was one giant battle with some pauses to breathe in between. I loved watching it play out, there were some twists that I hadn't seen coming and it was awesome! I was however a bit annoyed when during one of the battles, Gwen and her friends just seem to be defeating Reapers, because it left me thinking: these people have also had proper training right? And they're mythological warriors as well and these are just kids. It didn't make sense to me and it kinda bugged me. But other than that I really liked it.

Killer Frost is a solid ending to this series and I really enjoyed reading it. And now I'm sad because typing up this review means the series has REALLY ended and I'm just not good at saying goodbye, ok? I secretly (uhm... or maybe not so secretly, as this is a blog post after all) hope that Jennifer Estep will come up with more adventures for Gwen and her friends, or that she decides to start another YA mythology series, because I'm gonna miss this series!

My rating; 4,5 stars

Review of Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction by Jayne Fresina

Title/Author: Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction (Sydney Dovedale #4) by Jayne Fresina
Publisher/Date published: Sourceboks Casablanca, February 4th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Carver Danforthe, Earl of Everscham, has a reputation for being a wild rogue — not for indulging the ambitions of his sister's maid.

But Molly Robbins' unique dress designs have caught the eye of society's elite, and if it means her own dress shop, Molly will make a deal with the devil himself — or his proxy, the notoriously naughty earl.

But becoming his mistress is not a part of their arrangement. It's right there in the contract's small print: No Tomfoolery. Until he proposes a scandalous new addendum to their contract...

So I was reading this book while I was away at a training session where we had to delve into all our feelings about a lot of things and it was just the lightness I needed in those few moments I had for myself!

I really liked Molly! She knows what she wants and she's going after it wholeheartedly. I like that in a person. She's determined to make a living for herself and be a succesful modiste. She's also just a nice person and she cares about the people who live in the same building she does.

Carver is a bit of a stubborn man who doesn't really quite know what to do with feelings. He's not used to people praising him for the good he does, and he doesn't really know how to handle that either. And it was ADORABLE! I mean, most people think he's this scandalous person, but he's actually full of good deeds and kindness to a lot of people. I love how he sees the beauty in Molly and how he tries to find ways to do things for her without her finding out.

And these two defnitely had chemistry! Their story was sweet and made my heart happy and then it broke my heart a little, but only for a little while. So yes, I did very much like Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction, it was just that bit of light, cute reading that I needed while I was focusing on all these deep emotions!

My rating: 3,5 stars

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by my other blog The Broke and the Bookish

GUYS! The topic of this week is SO me! I mean, I love swooning over books and I have a ton I could add to this list :D

1. Pivot Point by Kasie West: guys, I could swoon over Trevor all day long, I'm not even kidding you. Actually, both boys were swoony, but Trevor has a special place in my heart.

2. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean: I'm an unashamed Sarah MacLean fan and this is the book that first convinced me of her brilliance. She never fails to write a swoony romance and Callie and Gabriel are such an amazing couple!

3. Crown of Embers by Rae Carson: HECTOR!!! I swoon so hard over Hector! With his whole military manliness and just MY HEART! OK? I swooned over the whole series, which aside from being an amazing epic fantasy series also has fantastic romance, but Crown of Embers made me fall head over heels for Hector, so it gets a place on this list.

4. Captured by a Rogue Lord by Katharine Ashe: this is actually part of my review: "He thinks he's not suited to be anyone's hero, but for Serena he wants to be. He's a really good person at heart and oh-my-gosh SWOONWORTHY!! I love that he's the pirate version of Robin Hood: stealing from the rich bad-guys, giving to the orphans and war-widows."
So: SWOONY PIRATE! YES!

5. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker: there's such a sweet swoonworthy boy and romance in this book! It totally melted my heart :)

6. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare: from my review "And guys, THE ROMANCE! SAH-WOON! THIS is what I want from my romance novels! Tension and steamyness and a real connection and HEARTBREAK and OMG ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF!"
Tessa Dare also brings the funny alongside the swoons and I love it!

7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Yes I swoon over Etienne. SO much.

8. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn: SO MUCH LOVE for this book! I totally adored it and there is an extremely swoonworthy man and romance in it :)

9. How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long: Julie Anne Long is along with the other ladies on this list among my favourite historical romance authors and this book made me swoon hard!

10. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean: yes, that's right, Sarah MacLean is so awesome that she made my list twice! I basically ignored everything around me and just read on till morning to finish this and it was BLISS!

So that's it for me, any recommendations? I always love finding more books and boys to swoon over ;)

Review of Vengeance by Megan Miranda

Title/Author: Vengeance (Fracture #2) by Megan Miranda
Publisher/Date published: Bloomsbury Childrens, February 13th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Falcon Lake wants vengeance. And so, it seems, does someone else... An intense, heart-rending psychological thriller to accompany the chilling and seductive Fracture

When Decker drags his best friend Delaney’s lifeless body out of the frozen lake, he makes a deal: Anyone but her. Everyone but her. The lake releases her. It takes another...

All their friends blame Delaney for Carson’s death. But Decker knows the truth: Delaney is drawn to those who are dying, and she would have tried to help Carson.

Or so Decker believes until a body lies in front of him in a pool of water on his kitchen floor. Until he sees in Delaney’s eyes that she knew this would happen too – and she said nothing. Until he realises it isn’t the lake that is looking for revenge – Delaney is part of someone else’s plan.

This powerful and emotionally charged psychological thriller follows Megan Miranda’s stunning debut Fracture.

***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES!***

Guys, Fracture by Megan Miranda was SUCH a powerful debut and like I said in my review: the story stayed with me for a long time after I finished the book. So obviously I couldn't help but clicking the request button when Vengeance showed up on NetGalley!

Vengeance was intense. I don't have another word for it, it was just SO intense! From the moment I opened up the first chapter and started reading, I was sucked back into this world and the lives of Decker and Delaney and everyone they're connected with. There's something so raw about this place and the people and it just completely drew me in again. I love how beautifully flawed all of these characters are and I just FELT their pain. And it was beautiful.

There's something infinitely creepy about Falcon Lake and how it may or may not be traying to take Delaney back or take revenge and I love how Megan Miranda plays with the possibility of something paranormal being on the loose and not giving away what is going on in certain terms until pretty much the end. And I loved it. I kept being swayed in my opinion and not knowing what exactly to think. It was just very well done and kept me turning the pages wanting to find out what the heck was going on!

I loved that Vengeance is told from Decker's point of view and it gave a whole different perspective on things. He still struggles with the guilt of leaving Delaney on the ice and her falling through it and even though he dragged her out, it's not enough. Like Delaney, Decker is seriously scarred by it and man do I love that boy! He did some pretty awful things in Vengeance and I still love him. I get that he was lashing out and he knows it too in the end and I just get it. I don't approve, but I get it. Am I making any sense?

Same thing actually goes for Delaney, she's made some choices that I maybe wouldn't have made, but she stands by them and I get her reasoning. I thought she was dealing pretty well with the drama that happens in Vengeance and her brutal honesty at times made me smile because it was just so her. Or maybe I was channeling Decker.

The group dynamic were wonderful to watch, everyone is still hurting over Carson's death and let's be honest, pretty much everything that happened in Fracture, expressing it in different ways and I could feel that they cared about each other, even though it didn't always look like it. And I'm again lacking for a word other than intense. Their relationship is intense and tight knit and just FRIENDS. Through the tough times as well as the good. Which is how it should be. But preferably without people dying.

Guys, I'm still reeling a bit from finishing this book, I stayed up till 2AM last night reading it and then started again when I woke up at 8AM, which is really saying something on a Sunday. I didn't want to put it down. It kept me up and I kept thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. And now I have serious book hangover and can't even think of picking up another book at the moment. That is how intense this book is. It may not be for everybody, but I love Megan Miranda's writing style and this powerful follow up to Fracture!

My rating: 5 stars

Review of Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Title/Author: Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher/Date published: HarperTeen, January 28th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS) - aka the kill gene - she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

So you guys may or may not know that I love Sophie Jordan. Or at least, I love her historical romances, as I haven't in fact read her Firelight series, I should get on that... BUT I know she writes amazing ALL the feels historical romance, and Uninvited totally triggered all my GIVE IT TO ME impulses, so we were off to a good start.

And Uninvited totally gave me what I wanted! The whole genetic testing thing was tickling all my science geek parts, I'm fascinated by this and the possiblities for the future, I guess it's a side effect of being a doctor, but I could just talk about this all day. Seriously. I'm actually kinda creeped out by what we can already find out about someone by their DNA, and don't even get me started about the genetic testing done on babies while they're still in the mother's uterus. I mean, there have been some amazing discoveries and some that I think we might have been better off without.

Erm... I'll get off my soap box now.

SO. What I meant to say was that I could completely see how society would be distorted by finding a kill gene. I can SEE people reacting to it the way they did in Uninvited, the whole mass panicking and putting these people in camps and just generally not being welcome anymore. I mean, doesn't it reflect how some people deal with people infected with HIV? I thought Sophie Jordan did an amazing job portraying the atmosphere and just the sheer madness of it all.

And I have to say that I really liked Davy. I could really connect with her and shared her disbelief at finding out she was a carrier and watching her life fall apart was heartbreaking. I mean, man, that is a lot to loose. Seriously. And how bad did I want to punch some of the people in her life! Ugh, her boyfriend and her dad! Just UGH! And her so-called best friend. I HATE that girl. Triple UGH! The hypocritic way in which people were constantly pushing people with the kill gene and then they'd go all righteous if they lashed out. I mean, SERIOUSLY? What did you expect?
Davy learns the hard way that she has to toughen up, but she does it. She fights for her place and I loved watching her go through all of it, though it often wasn't pretty.

There's a romance. And I knew Sophie Jordan wouldn't disappoint me in this area and guys, I really liked it! It wasn't the thing that impressed me most about this book and that is just as it should be. But I do love the boy.

Guys, basically what I'm saying is: you need to read this book. It is full of scientific brilliance, a whole lot of madness and an easily believable world that has gone crazy, paired with a main character that I could relate to and a good romance and JUST GO READ IT OK??? I've been trying not to go all caps on this, cause I want to convince you and not just go ALL THE FEELS, but seriously, if you're even the teensiest bit interested after you read the summary I'd say GO FOR IT. You will not regret it.

My rating: 5 stars

Review of Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Title/Author: Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After #1) by Tessa Dare
Publisher/Date published: Avon, January 28th 2014
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love . . .

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

You guys, I can always count on Tessa Dare to provide me with a cute historical romance and Romancing the Duke was no exception! It had a little less of the funny I've also come to expect from her, but it was still highly entertaining!

I seriously loved the scene in which Isolde and our Duke meet. It is awesome. Seriously. I loved how there is this big misunderstanding that might just be more than a misunderstanding and how it throws these two together. Also, what girl wouldn't want to be given a castle? I mean, sure it's a beast to heat and all, but ROOMS IN TOWERS! I mean EEE!

I really liked Izzy! She's a determined woman whose father forgot to provide for her in his will and who is just looking for a home and a little security. And I get it. I also loved how she dealt with her father's fanbase, because they come across as a bit cuckoo-crazy, but also SO much fun! I mean, I know we have LARP-ing and all that now, and this sounds like a group who was way ahead of their time in that sense. And though Izzy has to learn to stand up for herself and speak up, I loved that she's so good to these people and boy did I love how they were so ready to stand up for her and help her!

I also loved that our duke has a physical handicap. He's practically blind and it was really interesting to see how he coped with that in a time that had basically no treatment or visual aids for this kind of thing. Also, I loved how he 'saw' Izzy's inner beauty and the development of their relationship was just so sweet and *sigh* I loved it. I really liked how they figured what was going on out together and there's a sort of biggish reveal that I kinda saw coming, but not completely and it was fun!

Romancing the Duke was just what I needed it to be at the right time: a sweet, swoonworthy historical romance that made me sigh and smile and while it may not have been my favourite Tessa Dare book, it was still a really good read!

My rating: 4,5 stars

Blog Tour: Interview and Giveaway of Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction by Jayne Fresina

Today I have the honour of hosting the lovely Jayne Fresina on my blog for an interview! I really enjoyed her new release Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction and will have a review up soon!

1. Tell us 3 things not a lot of people know about you:
I am a lapsed vegetarian. I am addicted to Sudoku puzzles for relaxation. I love the smell of rubber bands, gas stations and old ashtrays!

2. Have you ever designed anything yourself like Molly does?
I love designing and sketching, but I am hopeless at sewing. Sewing machines actually terrify me! I so admire anyone who can sew their own clothes and wish I could do that. My sisters are all handy with a needle, so I'm the odd one out.

3. Do you have any pets? And if so, what are their names and did any of them ever chew on your shoes?
Yes, I have dogs and they have never chewed on my shoes, but a dog I once had chewed up a pair of my friends shoes when she came over one evening. We didn't even realize until she was looking for them to leave! I had to give her a pair of my shoes to wear home. My dogs have chewed other things of mine though! Including a coffee table. I've also had hamsters (several - all called Bean)and a lop-eared rabbit called Molly!

4. What do you do for fun aside from writing?
I love to go out for dinner and martinis with friends. And if the weather is good I like to go running. Apart from that there isn't much I do beyond writing. Between that and my "real" job, it takes up a lot of the day. Even when I'm not writing, I'm researching and taking notes. That's often fun too.

5. Describe your favorite dress:
It's a calf-length, floaty, very feminine, lilac and white halter dress I bought on Bluefly a few years ago. It's by the designer Diane Von Furstenburg. I would say it's my favorite really because it's much fancier than anything else I have - that said, however, I've only had the chance to wear it once so far. I do look at it in the closet though and run my hands over it every so often!

6. What was growing up with 3 sisters like?
Very noisy. Extremely educational. Sometimes frustrating. Always a comedy/drama. Never a dull moment.

7. Tell us about the last book you loved:
Emily Greenwood's "Gentlemen Prefer Mischief". I rarely have the chance to sit and read a book lately, but I took a break over the holidays to catch up on some reading. I thought it was a lovely romance with wonderful fully-drawn characters that just had me hoping for them all the way through.

8. What did you want to be growing up? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I wanted to be many things including a lawyer, a waitress, an assassin, or an actress. Actually I wanted to be Sophia Loren though, not just any actress. LOL!

9. Tell us about one of your pet peeves:
Dirty dishes left in the kitchen sink. (That was hard to pick just one!)

10. What is your favorite genre in books?
Historical romance!


MISS MOLLY ROBBINS DESIGNS A SEDUCTION BY JAYNE FRESINA – IN STORES FEBRUARY 2014

She Designs Dresses for London's Leading Ladies…
Molly Robbins is finally stepping into the spotlight. Her unique dress designs have caught the eye of London's elite. And if it means her own dress shop, proper Molly will make a deal with the devil himself—the notoriously naughty Earl of Everscham. But becoming his mistress is not a part of their arrangement. It's right there in the contract's fine print: No Tomfoolery.

He's an Expert at Taking Them Off…
Carver Danforthe has a reputation for beautiful mistresses, cutting remarks, and shirking his responsibilities—not for indulging the ambitions of his sister's maid. He must have been drunk when he signed that blasted contract. The stubborn female may thing she's gotten the best of him, but what this situation calls for is a little hands-on negotiating...

All's Fair in Love and Fashion…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Historical romance author Jayne Fresina sprouted up in England. Entertained by her father’s colorful tales of growing up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters, she’s always had inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction is the fourth book in her Sydney Dovedale series. She lives in upstate New York where she is working on a brand new regency romance series, the Book Club Belles Society. Visit www.jaynefresina.com for more information.

To Purchase Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction:
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Discover a New Love


But wait! There's more! The publisher is being all kinds of wonderful and is offering the following up for grabs for one lucky winner:
-The 4 book set of the Sydney Dovedale series

·The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine
·The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne
·Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal
·Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction

-A box of tea and mug

-And a tin of English Butter Fudge from Jayne

US/Canada residents only!

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